Match Preview - San Jose Earthquakes
Game Info
Kickoff: 8:09pm CT
Watch: Apple TV+
Location: PayPal Park - San Jose, CA
All-Time H2H Record
Austin FC has a 2W-7D-2L record against San Jose Earthquakes.
These teams have already met twice this season, with Austin leaving both contests happy. Less than two months ago Austin FC handed San Jose a 3-1 loss at Q2 Stadium that was highlighted by goals from both Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari. That was a highly-anticipated match after the Verde and Black eliminated the Quakes in the US Open Cup quarterfinals on penalty kicks after a 120 minute long chippy affair.
While this isn’t Austin’s most heated rivalry, it sure is a fun one that has provided plenty of memorable moments since these teams first met back on June 19th, 2021, the first ever Austin FC match held at Q2 Stadium. This game will mark the second time Austin has clashed with San Jose on Decision Day, the other being a 1-1 draw in San Jose to close out the 2023 season.
San Jose Earthquakes Recent Form
San Jose currently sits in 11th place in the Western Conference, on the outside of the playoff line but still alive in the race. They’ll need an outright victory versus Austin and some help from the likes of FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, and Colorado Rapids to squeeze their way into the wild card round. The results of FC Dallas against Vancouver, Real Salt Lake against St. Louis, and Colorado hosting LAFC won’t matter if San Jose earn all three points off of Austin, so expect a desperate Quakes side from the first whistle.
After Bruce Arena was hired as head coach and sporting director last offseason, the five-time MLS Cup Champion coach got to work, bringing in the likes of Cristian Arango in a trade with Real Salt Lake, signing former Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez as a free agent, and acquiring DeJuan Jones from Columbus Crew, just to name a few.
Arena then went straight to his old Revs group chat and reunited with many of his former players from his time in New England – Noel Buck, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Dave Romney, Ian Harkes, Earl Edwards Jr, and former Austin FC player Nick Lima all made the cross-country trip to California to join their old gaffer in his new digs.
Expectations were high to start the season with the arrival of Arena and the upgrades made to the roster. San Jose got off to a tumultuous start in the spring, but found their form around the midpoint of the season after a successful stretch from the beginning of May through the second week of July saw them lose just once in league play. After Austin eliminated San Jose from the US Open Cup things took a turn for the worse, as the relatively easy schedule to begin the year shifted to a much more challenging stretch that has resulted in just ten points from the 12 league matches since.
As I mentioned above, the Quakes are technically still alive for a Western Conference wild card spot, but they need a win and some help to clinch. ZG and I took the time to discuss playoff scenarios in-depth on Episode 265, where we covered exactly what San Jose needs to squeak into the wild card spot.
If you’ve been following us this season, then you’re well aware of the player personnel that make the Quakes dangerous. It all starts with a dynamic trio of attacking players in Chicho Arango, Cristian Espinoza, and Josef Martinez. Those three have accounted for 30 of San Jose’s 58 league goals on the season and have a combined 51 goal contributions. It’s a lethal triumvirate with unique skill sets that parlay well with one another. Arguably the best crosser in the league, Espinoza curls dangerous balls into the box where Martinez and Arango are often the beneficiaries finishing off scoring chances.
While neither Arango or Martinez require a ton of help to score goals, the service from Espinoza is a welcome complement to any goal scorer. Martinez, also a former MLS MVP, has flown under the radar this season as he has quietly put together his third consecutive double-digit goal scoring year. While his 13 goals are a far cry from his 33 and 35 goals in 2019 and 2018 respectively, he remains a savvy player with a nose for the net. His diminutive stature allows him to snake in between opposing defensive lines.
Chicho is still one of the premier goal-scorers in the league and his right foot is one of the most lethal in the league – a tool he’s not afraid to use often. Checking in with 116 shots this season, Chicho uncorks 4.23 shots per 90, firmly planting him in the top five in both categories in the 2025 season. He’s a threat to score as soon as he crosses half field, but Austin FC fans should know better than most that he can score from beyond the half field line as well. Please forgive me for sharing that, Bradley Scott Stuver.
Corralling these three is the top priority to keep San Jose off the scoreboard.
Austin FC Recent Form
Playoff spot? SECURED. Austin FC will be the sixth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs and will match up in a best-of-three series with the to-be-determined three seed. It’s a great accomplishment for a team that was an absolute disaster the season prior. It feels like the tide is turning in the 512 and fans should be excited about a brighter future.
Some fans will point to the six seed not being “enough,” but I wholeheartedly disagree. This club has embodied the “grit and grind” mindset and blessed us with a guaranteed home playoff game in the first round. It’s just the second time in the five year history of the club that they have qualified for postseason soccer.
On top of that, they juggled advancing to a championship game with a grueling regular season schedule, all while missing one of their three DPs, who just so happened to be leading the team in goals at the time of injury. We have seen tremendous growth from the likes of Owen Wolff, CJ Fodrey, Žan “Big Tex” Komanič, and MLS All-Star Guilherme Biro.
Dynamic play from Osman Bukari, Myrto Uzuni, and Mikkel Desler has buoyed a rather anemic Austin attack in the second half of the season, but the bread has been buttered all year by a stout defensive unit. Led by MLS All-Star Bradley Scott Stuver in net, the Verde and Black have stymied most opposing offenses they have encountered in 2025, including keeping two clean sheets against LAFC.
First year head coach Nico Estévez has orchestrated a successsful season and laid a new foundation going forward for a team that has plenty of flexibility next year in regard to roster construction and cap space.
Having secured the six seed and unable to move up or down in the standings, this game is entirely meaningless for Austin FC and it should be treated as such. The main goal of this contest versus San Jose should be leaving the state of California healthy on Saturday night. ATX fans are well aware that this pitch is the worst in the entire league and I do not think it’s even particularly close. On top of that, San Jose is a reckless club that fouls a lot and fouls hard. There shouldn’t be a higher priority than ensuring our key players are healthy going into the playoffs.
I may have gone a bit too far with my lineup desires come Saturday, but I want HEAVY rotation, with Nico calling up as many Austin FC II players as possible to fill out this lineup. To hear my full decision day starting lineup prediction, take a listen here.
Injury Report
ATX:
Osman Bukari (Questionable - Quad)
Diego Rubio (Out - Hamstring)
Brandon Vazquez (Out - Knee)
SJ:
Bruno Wilson (Questionable - Illness)
DeJuan Jones (Out - Lower Body)
Reid Roberts (Out - Lower Body)
San Jose Earthquakes Players to Watch
Cristian Espinoza - The last time we saw Cristian Espinoza he was crying on camera and displaying a nasty gash on his inner thigh courtesy of Mikkel Desler. A legendary crashout it was, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Espinoza is a very talented player who will be out for revenge. Espinoza leads the league in crosses into the penalty area this season with 28. He’s tops in the league (tied with Kai Wagner) with 320 crosses and has created 20 goal-creating actions – good for sixth in MLS. One of the best distributing wings you’ll find in this league, Espinoza will generate chances for his attacking counterparts in bunches.
Austin FC Keys to the Game
Stay Healthy - This game means nothing for Austin FC. Pride cometh before the fall, so rest your key players and move into the playoffs healthy and ready to roll. Let’s have some fun and let the young bucks wear the colors and represent.
Predictions
ZG - 1-2 San Jose Earthquakes
E - 0-2 San Jose Earthquakes
